Hand-held controller using LED tracking ring

ABSTRACT

A hand-held controller includes a handle extending in a longitudinal direction. The handle is shaped and dimensioned to be grasped by a user&#39;s hand. A ring is attached to an end of the handle and surrounds a thumb of the user when the handle is grasped by the user&#39;s hand. The ring has an annular surface that defines a plane that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, and a curved outer surface. Light sources are mounted on the curved outer surface and configured to emit light to be captured by an imaging device for tracking a position or orientation of the hand-held controller. The light is emitted in a direction normal to the curved outer surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 15/498,402, filed Apr. 26, 2017, which is incorporated by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure generally relates to virtual reality (VR)controllers, and specifically to a hand-held controller using an LEDtracking ring.

Description of the Related Arts

VR systems may include a controller to translate movement of the user'sbody into tangible action in a virtual world. Some controllers providevibration feedback to Android or iOS VR headsets for motion-basedgaming. A controller may be equipped with a gyroscope, an accelerometer,or terrestrial magnetic field sensor to trace motion back to a game,allowing intuitive gameplay as if the player is within the game.

SUMMARY

Embodiments relate to a hand-held controller to track a user's handmotion, position, natural gestures, and finger movement to create asense of hand presence for more realistic and tactile VR. The controllermay let the user make social gestures like point, wave, and give athumbs-up or manipulate objects in the virtual space, pick up toys orfire laser guns with intuitive, natural hand movement.

In one embodiment, the hand-held controller includes a handle extendingin a longitudinal direction. The handle is shaped and dimensioned to begrasped by a user's hand. A ring is attached to an end of the handle andsurrounds a thumb of the user when the handle is grasped by the user'shand. The ring has an annular surface that defines a plane that forms apredetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, and acurved outer surface. Light sources are mounted on the curved outersurface and configured to emit light to be captured by an imaging devicefor tracking a position or orientation of the hand-held controller. Thelight is emitted in a direction normal to the curved outer surface.

In one embodiment, the handle has a cylindrical shape.

In one embodiment, the hand-held controller includes a button located ona bottom surface of the handle. The button may be pressed by an index ormiddle finger of the user's hand.

In one embodiment, the button has a symmetrical shape.

In one embodiment, the predetermined angle is between 45° to 135°.

In one embodiment, a preferred ratio of a diameter of the ring to alength of the handle is 9:10.

In one embodiment, the light sources are light-emitting diodes.

In one embodiment, the handle is made of engineering plastic.

In one embodiment, the ring is made of engineering plastic.

In one embodiment, the hand-held controller includes a sensor interfacecircuit to receive sensor signals from a button located on a bottomsurface of the handle. The button generates the sensor signalsresponsive to being pressed by an index or a middle finger of the user'shand.

In one embodiment, the hand-held controller includes a circuit toprovide electrical signals to the light sources.

In one embodiment, the hand-held controller includes a wirelesscommunication interface to transmit wireless signals indicating userinput received from the user's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the embodiments can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

Figure (FIG. 1 is an example schematic perspective view of a hand-heldcontroller, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an example schematic side view of the hand-held controller, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an example schematic block diagram of the hand-heldcontroller, in accordance with an embodiment.

The figures depict various embodiments for purposes of illustrationonly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of embodiments, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide more thorough understanding. However,note that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known features have not beendescribed in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

Embodiments are described herein with reference to the figures wherelike reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similarelements. Also in the figures, the left most digits of each referencenumber corresponds to the figure in which the reference number is firstused.

Embodiments relate to a hand-held VR controller to track a user's handmotion and position. The hand-held controller includes a handleextending in a longitudinal direction. A ring is attached to an end ofthe handle and has a curved outer surface. Light sources are mounted onthe curved outer surface and configured to emit light to be captured byan imaging device for tracking a position or orientation of thehand-held controller.

Example Schematic Perspective View of Hand-Held Controller

FIG. 1 is an example schematic perspective view of a hand-heldcontroller 100, in accordance with an embodiment. The hand-heldcontroller 100 may be included in a VR system as a stand-alonecontroller or as part of a pair of tracked controllers that give a user“hand presence”—the feeling that the user's virtual hands are actuallyhis own. The hand-held controller 100 may enable the user to manipulateobjects in a virtual space with precision and intuitive, natural handmovement.

The hand-held controller 100 includes a handle 104 extending in alongitudinal direction 108. In one embodiment, the handle 104 may bemade of an engineering plastic, such as injection-molded polycarbonate(PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polyamide (nylon). Inother embodiments, the handle 104 may be made of wood or metal. Thehandle 104 may be resistant to impact and abrasion. The material of thehandle 104 may exhibit heat resistance, mechanical strength, orrigidity.

The handle 104 is shaped and dimensioned to be grasped by a user's handfor tracking natural gestures and finger movements to create morerealistic and tactile VR. For example, the handle may have a cylindricalshape. The handle 104 of the hand-held controller 100 may bend or curveto balance the weight of the controller 100, such that it restsnaturally in the top of the palm of the user or the crook of the user'sfingers. The user may therefore comfortably hold the hand-heldcontroller 100 without dropping it. Even if the user tries to open hishand completely when holding the hand-held controller 100 normally, theuser's fingers may catch on the ring 112 and support the hand-heldcontroller 100's weight. The ring 112 is attached to an end of thehandle 104 and has an annular surface 120. The ring may be made ofengineering plastic. In one embodiment, the ring is made ofinfrared-transparent polycarbonate. The ring 112 may surround a thumb ofthe user when the handle 104 is grasped by the user's hand.

The ring 112 has a curved outer surface 116, as illustrated in FIG. 1.Light sources 128 are mounted on the curved outer surface 116 to emitlight 132 to be captured by an imaging device for tracking a position ororientation of the hand-held controller 100. The light 132 is emitted ina direction normal to the curved outer surface 116. The light sources128 may be light-emitting diodes. A light-emitting diode 128 is atwo-lead semiconductor light source, such as a p-n junction diode, whichemits light 132 when receiving an electrical signal. A VR system mayinclude a camera to track a position or orientation of the hand-heldcontroller 100 by capturing the emitted light 132. For example, a cameramay be mounted on a computer monitor covering a field of view includingthe hand-held controller 100.

The hand-held controller 100 may include a trigger button 136 located ona bottom surface 140 of the handle 104. The trigger button 136 may bepressed by an index or middle finger of the user's hand. The triggerbutton 136 may provide a signal for grasping, lifting, etc., of virtualobjects in a VR space. The trigger button 136 may have a symmetricalshape, such as rectangular, elliptical or circular. The trigger button136 may be made of rubber or plastic.

Example Schematic Side View of Hand-Held Controller

FIG. 2 is an example schematic side view of the hand-held controller100, in accordance with an embodiment. The annular surface 120 of thering 112, illustrated and described above with reference to FIG. 1,defines a plane 224 that forms a predetermined angle 216 with respect tothe longitudinal direction 108 in which the handle 104 extends. Thepredetermined angle 216 may be between 45° to 135°. With the ringgeometry illustrated in FIG. 2, if the predetermined angle 216 is morethan 45°, this avoids interference with the thumb movement of the user.If the predetermined angle 216 is less than 135°, this avoids anyaffects to the inside-out tracking visibility to a camera mounted on anHMD.

In embodiments, a preferred ratio of a diameter 204 of the ring 112 to alength 208 of the handle 104 is 9:10. The preferred ratio of thediameter 204 of the ring 112 to a length 208 of the handle 104 reducesthe ring size while allowing thumb clearance for a 95th percentile maleuser. The handle 104 grip is sized such that it may be used by a 5thpercentile female user.

Example Schematic Block Diagram of Hand-Held Controller

FIG. 3 is an example schematic block diagram of the hand-held controller100, in accordance with an embodiment. The hand-held controller 100includes the trigger button 136, a sensor interface circuit 304, lightsource 128, a circuit 308, a wireless communication interface 312, and abus 324. In alternative configurations, different and/or additionalcomponents may be included in the hand-held controller 100, such as amemory, central processing unit, battery, Bluetooth component, USBinput, etc.

The sensor interface circuit 304 is a digital, analog, or mixed-signalcircuit to receive sensor signals 316 in the form of voltage or currentfrom the trigger button 136 when the trigger button 136 is pressed bythe user. The button 136 generates the sensor signals 316 responsive tobeing pressed by an index or a middle finger of the user's hand. Thetrigger button 136 may be connected to a transducer that converts themechanical motion of the trigger button 136 into the sensor signals 316.The hand-held controller 100 may include a circuit 308 to provideelectrical signals 320, such as voltage, to the light sources 128. Thecircuit 308 may be powered by a battery on the hand-held controller 100to generate the electrical signals 320. The light sources emit the light132 responsive to receiving the electrical signals 320.

The hand-held controller 100 may include a wireless communicationinterface 312, which may be a digital, analog, or mixed-signal circuitto transmit wireless signals 328 indicating user input 332 received fromthe user's hand. The wireless signals 328 may be transmitted to ahead-mounted display, a computer, a VR system, etc. The wirelesscommunication interface 312 may send and receive data via a wirelessnetwork without the need for connecting cables to the hand-heldcontroller 100. In one embodiment, the wireless communication interface312 may support the USB 1.1 and 802.11b wireless network standards up to11 Mbps data transfer rates. In one embodiment, the wirelesscommunication interface 312 may support the USB 2.0 and 802.11gstandards up to 54 Mpbs data transfer rates. In one embodiment, thewireless communication interface 312 may be a Compact Flash (CF)wireless network adapter use infrared technology for data exchangesbetween the hand-held controller 100 and a computer, etc. The wirelesscommunication interface 412, the sensor interface circuit 304, and thecircuit 308 may communicate via the bus 324.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been presented for thepurpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limitthe embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in therelevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations arepossible in light of the above disclosure.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principallyselected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not havebeen selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.It is therefore intended that the scope be limited not by this detaileddescription, but rather by any claims that issue on an application basedhereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to beillustrative, but not limiting, of the scope, which is set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand-held controller comprising: a handleextending in a longitudinal direction; a ring attached to a distal endof the handle, the ring defining a plane that forms a predeterminedangle with respect to the longitudinal direction, the ring having acurved outer surface; and a plurality of electromagnetic wave sourcesmounted at different locations on the curved outer surface andconfigured to emit electromagnetic waves to be captured by an imagingdevice for tracking a position or orientation of the hand-heldcontroller.
 2. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein theelectromagnetic waves are emitted in directions radially outward fromthe curved outer surface.
 3. The hand-held controller of claim 1,wherein at least one of the electromagnetic waves is emitted in adirection normal to the curved outer surface.
 4. The hand-heldcontroller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality ofelectromagnetic sources is a light source and at least one of theelectromagnetic waves is light.
 5. The hand-held controller of claim 1,wherein at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic sources is aninfrared source and at least one of the electromagnetic waves isinfrared.
 6. The hand-held controller of claim 1, further comprising abutton located on a bottom surface of the handle, the button configuredfor pressing by an index or middle finger of a user's hand.
 7. Thehand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle isbetween 45° to 135°.
 8. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein apreferred ratio of a diameter of the ring to a length of the handle is9:10.
 9. The hand-held controller of claim 1, further comprising asensor interface circuit configured to receive sensor signals from abutton located on a bottom surface of the handle, the button configuredto generate the sensor signals responsive to being pressed by an indexor a middle finger of a user's hand.
 10. The hand-held controller ofclaim 1, further comprising a circuit configured to provide electricalsignals to the plurality of electromagnetic wave sources.
 11. Thehand-held controller of claim 1, further comprising a wirelesscommunication interface configured to transmit wireless signalsindicating user input received from a user's hand.
 12. The hand-heldcontroller of claim 1, wherein the ring is configured to surround athumb of a user gripping the hand-held controller.
 13. A system,comprising: a hand-held controller comprising: a handle extending in alongitudinal direction; a ring attached to a distal end of the handle,the ring defining a plane that forms a predetermined angle with respectto the longitudinal direction, the ring having a curved outer surface;and a plurality of electromagnetic wave sources mounted at differentlocations on the curved outer surface and configured to emitelectromagnetic waves; and an imaging device configured to capture oneor more of the electromagnetic waves for tracking a position ororientation of the hand-held controller.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the electromagnetic waves are emitted in directions radiallyoutward from the curved outer surface.
 15. The system of claim 13,wherein at least one of the electromagnetic waves is emitted in adirection normal to the curved outer surface.
 16. The system of claim13, wherein at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic sources isa light source and at least one of the electromagnetic waves is light.17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality ofelectromagnetic sources is an infrared source and at least one of theelectromagnetic waves is infrared.
 18. The system of claim 13, furthercomprising a sensor interface circuit configured to receive sensorsignals from a button located on a bottom surface of the handle, thebutton configured to generate the sensor signals responsive to beingpressed by an index or a middle finger of a user's hand.
 19. The systemof claim 13, further comprising a circuit configured to provideelectrical signals to the plurality of electromagnetic wave sources. 20.The system of claim 13, further comprising a wireless communicationinterface configured to transmit wireless signals indicating user inputreceived from a user's hand.